SQUID biomagnetometry of the uterine arteries in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies

Aim: This study was designed to investigate the hemodynamics of the uteropl acental circulation in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies using the bioma gnetometer SQUID. Method: Twenty-two pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia and 49 normal pr egnancies were included in this study. All were near term. Biomagnetic sign als were recorded from the uterine arteries. After statistical Fourier anal ysis, the findings were designated in terms of spectral amplitudes as high (140-300 fT/root Hz), low (50- 110 fT/root Hz) and borderline (111 - 139 fT /root Hz). Results: The uterine artery waveforms and the corresponding spectral densit ies were of high amplitudes in most (89.7 %) normal pregnancies and of low amplitudes in most (81.8 %) pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia (p < 0. 005). These findings were of statistical significance and were correlated w ith fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring, pH, Apgar score at 1 and 5 minutes a nd birth weight percentiles: high amplitude cases were related with normal FHR patterns, pH > 7.25, Apgar score >7 and birth weight > 75(th) percentil e, while low amplitude recordings were connected with abnormal FHR patterns , pH < 7.25, Apgar score < 7, and birth weight < 10(th) percentile (8 cases ) and < 50(th) percentile (10 cases). Conclusion: Biomagnetic measurement of the uterine artery flow, is a promis ing procedure in assessing fetal health, especially in high-risk pregnancie s.